The Merced County, California, Board of Supervisors recently entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Port of Los Angeles to initiate a number of actions including the development of a joint business development plan and an exporter outreach initiative for the state’s Central Valley.
The agreement also calls for collaborative efforts to share business intelligence and work on prospective deals.
According to the Port of Los Angeles, the strategy is designed to turn the Mid-California International Trade District located at the Castle Commerce Center and Castle Airport into a hub for manufacturers and provide the port a central California focal point for goods movement.
“This is an unprecedented opportunity for Merced County,” Daron McDaniel, Chairman of the Merced County Board of Supervisors, said. “This is a long-term vision and another step in our continued effort to develop Castle, but if we can make it happen, it has the potential to bring substantial economic activity and jobs to this County.”
Merced County is currently developing the Castle site as a place for industrial investment in a range of manufacturing and distribution sectors including automotive, industrial machinery, specialty chemicals, commerce space systems, medical products and supplies, and food processing.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka said the MOA not only paved the way for collaboration but would give Central Valley shippers more awareness, support, and access to global markets through a broad network of high-frequency shipping line services.